I started reading the seventh chapter of John this morning and did not get very far when the Holy Spirit stopped me at verse five. Here is the context:
“After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For not even His brothers were believing in Him."
“Not even His brothers were believing in Him.”
And I suddenly wondered, “What did they think about their mother’s story of Jesus’ conception and birth? What did they think about Joseph, who corroborated it? Did his brothers believe it was a lie? And if a lie, what did that make their mother, Mary? Did they think, as the Pharisees thought, Jesus was born from fornication? (John 8:41)
Oh! How that suspicion must have torn at Mary’s heart. And at Joseph’s, while he was alive.
And then my mind took me to a modern application of the text. How hurtful it is – certainly not to the same degree – but still, how hurtful it is when families scoff when we tell them what Jesus has done for us, how He has changed us, how He has healed us . . . .
How hurtful it is when they rationalize it all away – even when they see the changes in our life.
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